A delegation of the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh, a platform of about 1,000 NGOs, asked the EC to reconsider the proposal. It also opposed another proposal that allows an NGO to donate funds to political parties.

In its draft proposals for electoral reforms, the EC said a person shall be disqualified from being elected as and from being a member of parliament if he has resigned or retired or he is terminated as an official or employee of a non-government organisation that receives donation or fund from any foreign country, unless three years elapsed since his resignation, retirement or termination.

The same provision is also applicable to government officials.

At the meeting with the EC, the NGO leaders argued that they don't have any scope to influence the election process while in service. Government officials may have such scope, they said.

"We think the proposal is not reasonable. We requested the Election Commission to reconsider it," Chairman of the federation and head of the delegation Dr Mohammad Ibrahim told reporters later.

On foreign donations, the delegation argued that they get such donations for different projects and they are accountable to the donor agencies for the funds. Besides, government agencies can monitor use of the foreign funds.

Members of the delegation also opposed another EC proposal allowing any NGO to donate funds to any political party.

In its proposal, the EC said donation or gift made to a registered political party by an individual or a private company or a group of companies or a non-government organisation shall be exempted from tax on that if the donor is a taxpayer.

Opposing the proposal, the delegation said an NGO may get involved in politics if it is allowed to donate funds to a political party.

Talking to reporters Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said the NGO representatives them about their stance regarding to the proposals. "We asked them to submit their proposals in writing. We will finalise the proposals in consultation with the political parties," he said.

Asked when the EC will hold talks with political parties on electoral reforms, the CEC said he doesn't know.

"I don't want to make any comment again," he said in reply to a question on the ban on indoor politics.

The CEC at a meeting with the law adviser on April 4 asked the government to lift the ban on indoor politics allowing the EC to hold talks with political parties. The government is yet to do so.

On the pilot project for voter listing that began on June 10 in Sripur Municipality of Gazipur, the CEC said tenure of the project might be extended if the task is not completed by June 30.